US8072210B2 - Detecting device of the angular position of a rotating member of an electric household appliance - Google Patents

Detecting device of the angular position of a rotating member of an electric household appliance Download PDF

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Publication number
US8072210B2
US8072210B2 US12/443,753 US44375307A US8072210B2 US 8072210 B2 US8072210 B2 US 8072210B2 US 44375307 A US44375307 A US 44375307A US 8072210 B2 US8072210 B2 US 8072210B2
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Prior art keywords
magnetic field
flux lines
generating means
interaction
rotating member
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US12/443,753
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US20100164486A1 (en
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Sergio Giordano
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ITW Industrial Components SRL
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ITW Industrial Components SRL
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Assigned to ITW INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO reassignment ITW INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GIORDANO, SERGIO
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/302—Automatic drum positioning

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a detecting device for detecting the angular position of an electric household appliance rotating member, in particular the drum of a top-load washing machine or dryer.
  • a detecting device for detecting the angular position of a rotating drum of a top-load washing machine or dryer adapted to allow the stopping of the drum with the loading/unloading opening arranged at the upper tilting top of the electric household appliance; such a device consists in a permanent magnet (or electromagnet) carried facing a RID type sensor by means of a horseshoe-shaped structure which is fixed to the frame of the electric household appliance, outside the tank.
  • the empty space between sensor and magnet is occupied by the pulley of the drive shaft of the drum, on which a ferromagnetic material strip is arranged in predetermined angular position.
  • the ferromagnetic material strip When the ferromagnetic material strip periodically passes in the space comprised between sensor and magnet, it alters the magnetic field, allowing the sensor to detect such alteration and consequently emitting an electric signal; such a device is therefore capable of indicating the reaching of a predetermined angular position of the drum, in which the ferromagnetic strip is located between the sensor and the magnet, which are thus intended to be arranged, in use, on opposite sides with respect to the ferromagnetic strip.
  • Such a type of sensor is also possibly adapted to detect the rotation speed of the drum, as described in EP-A-1067232.
  • the described device presents the drawback of being relatively cumbersome and, above all, of emitting a signal the discrimination of which depends on the distance between sensor and magnet, which may in use vary with respect to the design distance either due to assembly errors, or more simply due to machining tolerances, or due to a deformation of the horseshoe-shaped support which overhangingly carries the sensor and, on the opposite sidethereof, the magnet; therefore, the device according to FR-B1-2784403 is not very reliable.
  • a detecting device for detecting the angular position of an electric household appliance rotating member, typically the drum of a top-load washing machine or dryer, as defined in claim 1 .
  • the aforesaid detecting device comprises generating means of a magnetic field arranged in a fixed position with respect to the rotating member, e.g. integrally mounted on the frame of the electric household appliance; interaction means with the magnetic field generating means, integrally arrangeable in use on the rotating member in a position so as to periodically transit in front of the magnetic field generating means and in position adjacent to the same; and means adapted to generate an electrical signal when they are crossed by flux lines of the magnetic field, integrally arranged with the magnetic field generating means.
  • the magnetic field generating means are shaped so that the periodical transit of the interaction means causes a spatial variation of arrangement of the magnetic field flux lines between a first and a second field configuration; and the signal generating means are arranged, with respect to the interaction means, on the same side as the magnetic field generating means, but in a position so as to be crossed by the flux lines only in the second field configuration.
  • the magnetic field generating means consist of a permanent magnet having opposite N-S (North-South) poles oriented along an axis which in use intercepts the interaction means, so that in use essentially all the flux lines of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet may interact with the interaction means so as to be displaced from the first configuration, in which they close away from the interaction means, to the second configuration, in which they close through the interaction means.
  • the signal generating means instead comprise an inductor arranged immediately adjacent to the permanent magnet and arranged coaxially to the axis of orientation of the N-S poles of the permanent magnet, and an electric circuit to which the inductor belongs.
  • the magnetic field generating means consist of an electromagnet comprising an electrical winding and a core defining a magnetic circuit comprising at least one first branch at which the electrical winding is located, and at least one second branch, free from electrical winding at which the signal generator means are located; the core is shaped so as to define between the first and second branch of the magnetic circuit an air gap facing in use towards the interaction means and arranged on the same side with respect to the same, at least near which air gap the interaction means periodically transit in consequence of the rotation of the rotating member.
  • the signal generating means then consist of a Hall effect sensor integrally carried by the core either at or near the second branch of the magnetic circuit, so as to be crossed by the flux lines of the magnetic field only when they close through the air gap, by effect of the transit of the interaction means, and the second branch of the magnetic circuit, in the second field configuration.
  • the interaction means consists in at least one element formed by a ferromagnetic material and mountable, either directly or indirectly, in angularly integral manner to the mobile member in a predetermined angular position, such as a metallic foil, a plate, a bracket or insert.
  • the device in addition to being extremely cheap and small, emits a signal which varies in on-off manner between zero (no signal—when the ferromagnetic strip is not facing the magnet and the corresponding inductor) and a predetermined maximum value (e.g. 5 V) corresponding to the design value; possible positioning errors which vary in use the distance between magnet and ferromagnetic strip may thus only make the maximum intensity of the signal vary, but however allow to discriminate between a signal (any signal) and no signal.
  • a predetermined maximum value e.g. 5 V
  • the Hall sensor is mounted on the same structure as the electromagnet and is not thus subjected to assembly errors or, in any case, these do not noticeably affect the difference between the (maximum) quantity of flux lines which cross the sensor when the ferromagnetic strip fixed to the rotating member faces the air gap and the quantity of flux lines which cross it (essentially none) when the ferromagnetic strip is instead not facing the air gap.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention in two different configurations a) and b) of operation and, in FIG. 1 c ) shown by a wiring diagram; and
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the device of the invention diagrammatically showing two different operating configurations with different lines.
  • numeral 1 indicates as a whole a detecting device of the angular position of a rotating member 2 of an electric household appliance (known and not shown).
  • the rotating member 2 is a drum of a washing machine or dryer, or an element otherwise angularly connected to it, such as the actuating pulley of the drum itself which, on the contrary of the drum, is outside the tank of the washing machine or dryer and is thus in more accessible position.
  • the device 1 both in version la shown in FIG. 1 and in version 1 b shown in FIG. 2 , comprises generating means 3 of a magnetic field arrangeable in use in a fixed position with respect to the rotating member 2 , e.g. integrally mounted onto the frame (not shown) of the electric household appliance in a position peripherally facing the rotating member 2 ; interaction means 5 with the magnetic field generating means 3 , integrally arrangeable in use on the rotating member 2 in a position so as to periodically transit in front of the magnetic field generating means 3 , in position adjacent to the same; and means 7 adapted to generate an electric signal when they are crossed by flux lines 9 of the magnetic field, which, as it will be seen later on, may take two different spatial configurations according to the invention.
  • the signal generating means 7 are arranged integrally with respect to the magnetic field generating means 3 .
  • the magnetic field generating means 3 are shaped so that the periodical transit of the interaction means 5 causes a spatial variation of the arrangement of the magnetic field flux lines 9 generated by them between a first field configuration, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by flux lines 9 a , and a second field configuration, shown by flux lines 9 b .
  • the signal generating means 7 are arranged with respect to the interaction means 5 , on the same side (i.e. on the same band) as the magnetic field generating means 3 , but in a position so as to be crossed by the flux lines 9 only in the second field configuration, i.e. so as to be crossed or however operatively associated to the flux lines 9 b only.
  • the interaction means 5 are shaped so as to be in use arranged along an angular arc of predetermined width having centre coinciding with a rotation axis (not shown for the sake of simplicity) of the rotating member 2 ; furthermore, such angular arc of extension of the interaction means 5 is chosen so as to occupy, in use, with respect to the rotating member 2 , a predetermined angular position, e.g. either corresponding to, or associated with a desired angular stop position for the drum of the electric household appliance.
  • the interaction means 5 consists in at least one element formed by ferromagnetic material and mountable, either directly or indirectly, in angularly integral manner to the mobile member 2 in a predetermined angular position, preferably formed by a metallic foil, a plate, a bracket or insert, angularly fixable to the rotating member 2 .
  • the field generating means 3 consist in a permanent magnet 10 having opposite poles N-S (North-South) orientated so that in use essentially all the flux lines 9 of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 10 may interact with the interaction means 5 (i.e. with the plate or metallic foil 5 integrally carried by the member 2 ) to be displaced from the first configuration 9 a , in which they close away from the plate or foil 5 ( FIG. 1 a )), to the second configuration 9 b , in which they close through the ferromagnetic plate or foil 5 ( FIG. 1 b )) instead.
  • N-S North-South
  • the opposite poles N-S of the permanent magnet 10 are in particular orientated along an axis A such that, in use, the axis A always intercepts the interaction means 5 (and with these the member 2 ), either frontally (being in this case arranged frontally to the rotation axis of the member 2 ) or radially (being in this case arranged perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the member 2 ).
  • the signal generating means 7 comprise an inductor 12 arranged immediately adjacent to the permanent magnet 10 and arranged coaxially to the orientation axis A of the poles N-S of the permanent magnet; and an electric circuit 14 (diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 c ), to which the inductor 12 belongs.
  • the electric circuit 14 comprises, in the example shown, in addition to the inductor 12 , at least one transistor 15 electrically arranged in series with the inductor 12 , and at least one resistor 17 , electrically arranged in parallel to both, so as to be adapted to generate at the opposite terminals T, a direct current (dc) voltage signal Vt when the flux lines 9 b of the magnetic field cross the inductor 12 in the second field configuration ( FIG. 1 b )).
  • dc direct current
  • the circuit 12 is preferably carried by an electronic board 16 (printed circuit or PCB) which is glued or fixed in other manner to the permanent magnet on a face of this; on the opposite face of the permanent magnet 10 the inductor 12 is fixed in identical manner, so that it overhangingly protrudes towards the plate or foil 5 from the permanent magnet 10 itself and which is electrically connected to the rest of the electric circuit 14 placed on the board 16 by means of electrical conductors (not shown for the sake of simplicity), e.g. formed by welded wires or conductive tracks, for example deposited on the outside of the permanent magnet 10 .
  • electrical conductors not shown for the sake of simplicity
  • the magnetic field generating means 3 consist of an electromagnet 20 comprising an electric winding 21 and a core 22 defining a magnetic circuit 23 comprising at least one first branch 24 at which the electrical winding 21 is located, and at least one second branch 25 , free from electrical winding and at which the signal generating means 7 are located.
  • the core 22 is shaped so as to define between the first branch 24 and the second branch 25 of the magnetic circuit 23 an air gap 26 facing in use towards the interaction means 5 and arranged on the same side with respect to the same.
  • the interaction means defined by the plate or foil 5 periodically transits in use, in consequence of the rotation of the rotating member 2 , at least in proximity of the air gap 26 .
  • the signal generating means 7 then consist of a Hall effect sensor 30 (of known type) integrally carried by the core 23 either at or near the second branch 25 of the magnetic circuit 23 , so as to be crossed by the flux lines 9 b of the magnetic field only when these close through the air gap 26 and the second branch 25 of the magnetic circuit 23 in consequence of the transit in the air gap 26 (or adjacent to the same) of the metallic plate or foil featuring the interaction means 5 , forming the mentioned second field configuration.
  • a Hall effect sensor 30 of known type
  • the core 22 is U-shaped, having a first and a second straight arms defining the first branch 24 and second branch 25 , respectively, of the magnetic circuit 25 , and a connection segment 40 between corresponding base ends of the two arms 24 , 25 ; the latter two arms overhangingly protrude from the connection segment 40 and being adapted to be oriented in use towards the rotating member 2 ; the Hall effect sensor 30 is arranged on the connection segment 40 , near the second arm 25 , and is mounted integrally to an electronic board 42 for processing the generated signal, also integrally carried by the core 22 .
  • both the inductor 12 , and the sensor 30 are only marginally affected by the flux lines 9 a and thus the signal emitted by the circuit 14 is at essentially no voltage (zero value), as the signal emitted by the electronic board 42 will also be essentially zero (or extremely weak).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Length, Angles, Or The Like Using Electric Or Magnetic Means (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
US12/443,753 2006-12-06 2007-12-06 Detecting device of the angular position of a rotating member of an electric household appliance Expired - Fee Related US8072210B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000867A ITTO20060867A1 (it) 2006-12-06 2006-12-06 Dispositivo di rilevamento della posizione angolare di un organo rotante di un elettrodomestico, in particolare il tamburo di una lavatrice
ITTO2006A000867 2006-12-06
ITTO2006A0867 2006-12-06
PCT/IB2007/003803 WO2008068604A1 (en) 2006-12-06 2007-12-06 Detecting device of the angular position of a rotating member of an electric household appliance, in particular the drum of a washing machine

Publications (2)

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US20100164486A1 US20100164486A1 (en) 2010-07-01
US8072210B2 true US8072210B2 (en) 2011-12-06

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US (1) US8072210B2 (it)
EP (1) EP2126182A1 (it)
CN (1) CN101542035B (it)
IT (1) ITTO20060867A1 (it)
WO (1) WO2008068604A1 (it)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8296088B2 (en) 2006-06-02 2012-10-23 Luminex Corporation Systems and methods for performing measurements of one or more materials
US8975878B2 (en) * 2010-12-23 2015-03-10 Caterpillar Inc. Switched reluctance generator integrated controls
EP3014006A4 (en) * 2013-06-25 2016-11-16 Lg Electronics Inc POWER GENERATING DEVICE AND DEVICE THEREFOR
US10466206B2 (en) * 2016-12-12 2019-11-05 Southwest Research Institute Non destructive magnetostrictive testing with unidirectional guided waves generated by ferromagnetic strip sensor
CN109385836B (zh) * 2017-08-07 2025-03-07 天津海尔洗涤电器有限公司 顶开式衣物处理设备及其定位装置
JP2024179240A (ja) 2023-06-14 2024-12-26 株式会社Pfu 入力装置、制御方法及び制御プログラム

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3529450A (en) 1968-10-07 1970-09-22 Norvin L Pellerin Cleaning machine
FR2522343A1 (fr) 1982-02-26 1983-09-02 Thomson Brandt Machine lave-linge
US4529934A (en) * 1982-01-18 1985-07-16 Papst-Motoren Gmbh & Co. Kg Apparatus for detecting a predetermined angular position on rotating devices
US5602472A (en) * 1993-01-15 1997-02-11 Hughes Electronics Apparatus and method for determining angular position and rotational speed using a rotating magnet and a directional magnetometer
DE19948622A1 (de) 1998-10-09 2000-05-04 Elbi Int Spa Stellungs-Sensorvorrichtung für die Wäschetrommel einer Maschine zur Wäschebehandlung
US6750575B2 (en) * 2001-08-21 2004-06-15 General Electric Company Method and apparatus for sensing the angular position of a rotating member
EP1544342A2 (en) 2003-12-18 2005-06-22 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same
EP1916528A2 (en) * 2006-10-25 2008-04-30 Emerson Appliance Motors Europe S.r.l. Device for sensing the angular speed and position of a rotating element
US7891257B2 (en) * 2006-12-13 2011-02-22 Itw Industrial Components S.R.L. Con Unico Socio Monitoring device of the feed to an electric household appliance of an operative fluid, in particular of a flow of water to a tank of a washing machine or dishwasher

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3529450A (en) 1968-10-07 1970-09-22 Norvin L Pellerin Cleaning machine
US4529934A (en) * 1982-01-18 1985-07-16 Papst-Motoren Gmbh & Co. Kg Apparatus for detecting a predetermined angular position on rotating devices
FR2522343A1 (fr) 1982-02-26 1983-09-02 Thomson Brandt Machine lave-linge
US5602472A (en) * 1993-01-15 1997-02-11 Hughes Electronics Apparatus and method for determining angular position and rotational speed using a rotating magnet and a directional magnetometer
US5742160A (en) * 1993-01-15 1998-04-21 Hughes Electronics Apparatus for determining angular position and rotational speed using a rotating magnet and a directional magnetometer
DE19948622A1 (de) 1998-10-09 2000-05-04 Elbi Int Spa Stellungs-Sensorvorrichtung für die Wäschetrommel einer Maschine zur Wäschebehandlung
US6750575B2 (en) * 2001-08-21 2004-06-15 General Electric Company Method and apparatus for sensing the angular position of a rotating member
EP1544342A2 (en) 2003-12-18 2005-06-22 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same
US7421865B2 (en) 2003-12-18 2008-09-09 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine with drying function and method of controlling the same
EP1916528A2 (en) * 2006-10-25 2008-04-30 Emerson Appliance Motors Europe S.r.l. Device for sensing the angular speed and position of a rotating element
US7891257B2 (en) * 2006-12-13 2011-02-22 Itw Industrial Components S.R.L. Con Unico Socio Monitoring device of the feed to an electric household appliance of an operative fluid, in particular of a flow of water to a tank of a washing machine or dishwasher

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ISR for PCT/IB2007/003803 dated Apr. 25, 2008.
Translation of DE19948622A1 filed on May 4, 2000. *

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EP2126182A1 (en) 2009-12-02
CN101542035A (zh) 2009-09-23
CN101542035B (zh) 2013-01-30
ITTO20060867A1 (it) 2008-06-07
WO2008068604A1 (en) 2008-06-12
US20100164486A1 (en) 2010-07-01

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